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CHANDIGARH, Mr. Brahm Mohindra, Health & Family Welfare and Medical Education Minister today held a press conference to flag the notable achievements of the department within a time span of 10 months. The Minister also rolled out the vision document of Health and Medical Education Department. He said that the motto of the Punjab Government is to provide quality health services to all the citizen of the state and the first big step towards achieving this aim is to start 2950 wellness centers across the state in phased manner to cater the healthcare services to the patients at their doorsteps especially in rural areas. Likewise 50 new ambulances will be rolled out including 5 Advance Life Saving Ambulances equipped with critical life saving equipments. The minister said that to provide big relief to the patients suffering from chronicle diseases, medicine shops will be opened at 22 District Hospitals, 41 SDHs and in 3 medical colleges of Punjab to provide generic medicines at affordable rates.
Mr. Brahm Mohindra castigated the previous SAD-BJP alliance, which was at the helm of affairs in the state for 10 year for blatantly and shamelessly ignoring the primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services. He said that though he inherited the health department which was totally in shambles but under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, the health care system has improved to a great extent and the results are there for everyone to see. The Health Minister also announced set of new flagship schemes, which will be commenced in the year 2018.
The first major announcement by the Health Minister was the establishment of 2950 Health wellness centers (HWC) in the state. The minister stated that Punjab is the first state in the country which has taken this initiative. He said that these centers will be established in phased manner and under first phase 240 such wellness centres will be opened within this year in the districts Fazilka, Pathankot and in 2 blocks of Patiala district. He said that trained staff nurses will be designated as Community Health Officer in wellness centers and the special training programme of 6 six months is underway, which is being imparted by IGNOU. He said that Specialist/ Medical Officer from nearby CHC/ PHC will visit HWC bi-weekly for OPD services. “17 Lakh will be spent on operationalising each HWC including 5 lakh for civil infrastructure.” He added.
The next eye catcher announcement by the Health Minister was to roll out 50 new ambulances including 5 advance life saving ambulances (ALS) to provide emergency services to the urban and rural areas. He said that these ALS will be equipped with critical life saving equipments. Divulging the details he said that 242 ambulances have already been deputed at Strategic places and are connected with ‘108’ Call Centre. He said that we are ensuring that the Emergency Ambulances will reach the place within 20 minutes in Urban areas and within 30 minutes in Rural areas.
Mr. Brahm Mohindra said that it is matter of proud for the state that we are the only state in India that has rolled out e-Raktkosh in all 45 government blood banks. He said that under this scheme benefits to the general public include easy access of the blood availability status in respect of blood group, blood bank wise & district wise of blood & blood products, blood donation camp information, registration of voluntary blood donors to create donor repository, location of nearest blood banks. He said that this information could be obtained by logging in at e-raktkosh.in or by downloading e-Raktkosh mobile app from google play store. “In the next phase, all 59 private blood banks of Punjab shall be linked with e-Raktkoh application software.” said Mr. Brahm Mohindra.
Health Minister said that the congress party in its election manifesto has promised to set up 5 new medical colleges and hospitals in the state. He said that it is fact for everyone to check that in the last 70 year not a single medical college and hospital in government sector has come up in the state. He said that Rajindra Medical College and Hospital was founded in the year 1951. He said that now the Congress Government true to its election promise has decided to set up medical college and hospital in SAS Nagar (Mohali). He said the construction work will be initiated in this year.
Mr. Brahm Mohindra also flagged a noble initiative of free dialysis in all district hospitals, sub divisional hospitals (Kotkapura, Abohar, Batala, Dasuya and Phagwara) and CHC Banga and in three medical college and hospitals. He said 68 units at these 28 centres are operational. He said that in second phase free dialysis services will soon be provided in another 5 sub divisional hospitals.
Health Department in order to check the spread of TB virus has decided to provide free dietary support to the patients undergoing treatment for TB – nutrient mixture will be provided from next month in collaboration with Markfed. He said that free x-ray for TB suspect patients is also being extended in all Government Hospitals. He said that at National level aim is to eradicate TB by 2025, but State intended to achieve this target by 2022.
The minister stressed on the need to establish Trauma Centers to extend crucial life saving health care to the injured during the critical hours. He said that the state government realizing the need of trauma centers, has decided to set up 5 trauma centers across the state. He said that in the first phase these trauma centers to come up along the National and State Highways.
“In order to ensure the punctuality of medical officers and other medical and para medical staff, the health department has decided to install Bio Metric Attendance System in all government hospitals.” added the minister.
Mr. Brahm Mohindra further stated that with a view to control the infant and mother mortality rate the state government is all set to launch 100 days comprehensive Mother & Child Health Care Programme for strengthening the benefit given to beneficiary starting from pregnancy till the immunization of child is completed. He said that this programme will include providing quality ANC Checkup at least 3 times to pregnant women, nutrition supplementation, tracking of high risk pregnancies, strong referral mechanism.
The Minister further divulged that Punjab Government is all set to initiate the first of its kind unique programme, under which State Organ Tissue Transplantation organization will be established to provide ‘Organ & Tissue Donation’ under tertiary health care services. For this noble cause space has already been earmarked in Medical Education Bhawan at Mohali. He said that many patients suffer from end stage disease of various organs likewise Heart, Lungs, Kidney, Liver, Pancreas & Intestine etc. Once the facility is operational, the donated organs will be transplanted into such patients for therapeutic purposes under this programme.
